King Kekaulike keeps on knocking, but ‘Iolani advances

'Iolani’s Elena Oglivie (9) put down a kill past King Kekaulike’s Lyric Love (10) and Montana DiSegna (12) during the first set of Thursday's quarterfinal match. Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell/Star-Advertiser.

Coach Al Paschoal comes to Oahu for the state championships every year with his King Kekaulike team.

Even though it’s usually one and done in the championship bracket, his girls remain upbeat.

On Thursday night, Na Alii lost in four sets — 25-18, 22-25, 25-12, 25-8 — to ‘Iolani in the Division I quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships at Moanalua.

While the Raiders will be trying to get to the final in a semifinal matchup against Mililani on Friday night, King Kekaulike falls to the consolation bracket.

It’s a place they’re used to. Paschoal’s Na Alii made it as far as the semifinals on once, in 2016, when they lost 3-0 to Kamehameha.

In 2013 and 2017, King Kekaulike lost in the first round. This year, and in 2014 and 2015, Na Alii lost as seeded quarterfinalists with a first-round bye. The team also lost in a first-round match in 2012 under coach Jade Kapeka-Vares.
King Kekaulike’s Brooklynne Albrecht (left), Lauren Albrecht (center) and Julia Wagner celebrated a kill against ‘Iolani. Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell/Star-Advertiser.

That’s seven trips to the state tournament in a row. Na Alii keeps knocking on the door. Some day, the may get in the final.

Paschoal was also a co-head coach in 2017 for King Kekaulike’s boys team when it came to the state tournament and lost in the first round. Na Alii’s boys didn’t make the tourney last spring, but placed fifth in 2016 and fourth in 2014 and 2015 under various head coaches.

“They’re a good team, and Al does a great job with them,” ‘Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey said after vanquishing King Kekaulike on Thursday night. “They had a really good season on Maui. They came in fired up and we just kind of weathered it in Set 1. In Set 2, they came back out and we gave away some points. Our girls bounced back in three and four.”

Na Alii (14-1), ranked No. 3 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10, were seeded third in the tournament as the MIL D-I champions.

“I was a little frustrated,” Na Alii’s Kalena Vaivai, who had 26 assists and 10 digs, said after the match. It’s my last year and I wanted to do my best for my team.

Vaivai was holding back happy tears while adding, “Oh my gosh, we’re just a big happy family. They’re all my sisters and we go through it all together. I wish the best for them.”

Vaivai committed to play for Utah State next season.

Other Na Alii are getting college looks, according to Paschoal. Senior hitter Nohokula Lind is in talks with various D-I schools. Sophomore middle Annika Stammberger is also drawing interest.

King Kekaulike setter Kalena Vaivai is headed to Utah State next season. Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell/Star-Advertiser.

Obrey’s unseeded ‘Iolani team is going for a second state title in the last three years, but to do it, the Raiders (11-5) have to beat second-seeded and fourth-ranked Mililani (14-0) and then either top-seeded and top-ranked ILH champion Kamehameha (17-1) or unseeded and seventh-ranked Kahuku (14-2), whichever team survives the other semifinal.

“We embrace the challenge,” Obrey said. “We love the adversity and we want to go after it, and we want to play the best teams along the way.”

HHSAA D-I State Tournament

Match #

Date

Matchup

Time/Scores

Site

1

Oct. 22

Waianae vs. KS-Hawaii

KSH 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 16-14

KS-Hawaii

2

Oct. 22

Moanalua vs. KS-Maui

Moan 25-8, 25-20, 25-18

KS-Maui

3

Oct. 22

Farrington vs. Kahuku

Kah 16-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-12

Kahuku

4

Oct. 22

'Iolani vs. Kapolei

Iol 25-19, 25-15, 25-16

'Iolani

5

Oct. 25

(4) Hilo vs. Kahuku

Kah 25-12, 25-23, 25-19

McKinley

6

Oct. 25

(1) Kamehameha vs. Moanalua

KSK 25-16, 25-12, 25-17

McKinley

7

Oct. 25

(2) Mililani vs. KS-Hawaii

Mil 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17

Moanalua

8

Oct. 25

(3) King Kekaulike vs. 'Iolani

Iol 25-18, 22-25, 25-12, 25-8

Moanalua

9*

Oct. 26

Hilo vs. Moanalua

Moan 25-22, 25-22

Moanalua

10*

Oct. 26

KS-Hawaii vs. King Kekaulike

KSH 25-22, 27-25

Moanalua

11

Oct. 26

Mililani vs. 'Iolani

Iol 25-17, 25-20, 25-14

McKinley

12

Oct. 26

Kahuku vs. Kamehameha

KSK 25-16, 25-22, 25-9

McKinley

13*

Oct. 27

Moanalua vs. KS-Hawaii

KSH 21-25, 25-13, 16-14

Blaisdell Arena

14*

Oct. 27

Mililani vs. Kahuku

Mil 25-27, 25-18, 15-4

Blaisdell Arena

15

Oct. 27

'Iolani vs. Kamehameha

Iol 25-23, 25-21, 25-18

Blaisdell Arena

* — consolation

HHSAA D-II State Tournament

Match #

Date

Matchup

Time/Scores

Site

1

Oct. 24

Konawaena vs. Sacred Hearts

SH 25-7, 25-15, 25-12

St. Francis

2

Oct. 24

(5) Waimea vs. Hana

Waim 25-13, 14-25, 25-12, 25-16

St. Francis

3

Oct. 24

Damien vs. Hawaii Prep

DMS 25-13, 25-6, 25-8

Kaimuki

4

Oct. 24

Leilehua vs. Le Jardin

LJA 25-14, 25-12, 25-17

Kaimuki

5*

Oct. 25

Konawaena vs. Hana

Hana 27-25, 25-21

St. Francis

6*

Oct. 25

Hawaii Prep vs. Leilehua

Lei 25-16, 20-25, 15-5

Kaimuki

7

Oct. 25

(4) Kaiser vs. Waimea

Waim 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-13

St. Francis

8

Oct. 25

(1) Mid-Pacific vs. Sacred Hearts

SH 25-12, 25-19, 7-25, 25-19

St. Francis

9

Oct. 25

(3) Kohala vs. Damien

DMS 25-11, 25-11, 25-19

Kaimuki

10

Oct. 25

(2) Seabury Hall vs. Le Jardin

LJA 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-15

Kaimuki

11*

Oct. 26

Hana vs. Leilehua

Hana 18-25, 25-20, 15-10

Kaimuki

12*

Oct. 26

Kaiser vs. Mid-Pacific

MPI 25-21, 25-19

Kaimuki

13*

Oct. 26

Kohala vs. Seabury Hall

SH 25-16, 25-22

Kaimuki

14

Oct. 26

Damien vs. Le Jardin

LeJ 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17

St. Francis

15

Oct. 26

Waimea vs. Sacred Hearts

SH 25-22, 25-12, 25-16

St. Francis

16*

Oct. 27

Mid-Pacific vs. Seabury Hall

MPI 15-25, 25-17, 15-7

Blaisdell Arena

17*

Oct. 27

Damien vs. Waimea

DMS 25-9, 25-17

Blaisdell Arena

18

Oct. 27

Le Jardin vs. Sacred Hearts

SH 19-25, 26-24, 25-13, 25-17

Blaisdell Arena

* — consolation

COMMENTS

Respect for the vanquished
October 26, 2018 7:29 am

After watching the quarterfinals at Moanalua last night, I think something should be said about the seeding for this year’s tournament. King Kekaulike absolutely deserved the #2 seed, thus avoiding a matchup with Iolani until the semifinal. Admittedly, I did not have the opportunity to watch Na Ali’i until last night, but I was very impressed with their athleticism in the front row.

For the tournament seeding committee, was the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10 not considered in your determination of seeds? While it may have been holding off the inevitable, as most are expecting to watch a 4th consecutive matchup of the 2 ILH representatives, but the seed would at least be justified by the rankings.

To the players, coaches, and fans of King Kekaulike, I applaud you all for a great run to the State tournament.

Over it
October 27, 2018 2:37 am

They should not have been ranked 2nd and definitely not 3rd in the state. Mililani, Kahuku and Moanalua would have beat them.

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